Envelope-opener



' M. PROSI NGER.

ENVELOPE OPENER.

No. 436,189. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN PROSINGER, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO.

ENVELOPE-OPEN ER.

SIPECIFICA'IION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,189, dated September 9, 1890.

Application filed March 22, 18901 Serial No, 345,003- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN PROSINGER, of Cafion City, Fremont county, Colorado, have invented certain Improvements in an Article for Opening Envelopes or Cutting Paper, of

' which the following is a specification.

My invention is a device adapted for opening envelopes and cutting leaves of books, 650. A blade or cutter is secured in a groove in a metal holder and thus protected from contact with other objects, as well as adapted for its special function, as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device. Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views showing the top and bottom of the holder orprotector for the cutter. Fig. 4 is'a plan view of the cutter. Fig. 5 is a side or edge view of the cutter and its holder or protector. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the protector alone; Fig. 7, a perspective view showing the device in use.

The device consists of a holder or protector A and a cutter B. The protector is composed, mainly, of a top plate a and bottom plate I), which are oblong and rectangular in shape, arranged parallel and connected by rivets. The shank d of the cutter B is attached by screws or rivets to a narrow plate 0, which is secured between the aforesaid parallel plates A B, and the top plate has a longitudinal opening 6, directly over the cutter B, for convenience of observation of the latter. when in use, and also to provide for conveniently cleaning the cutter.

The cutter or knife B, Fig. 4, having a point m, Fig. 4, shaped like a wedge with a reverse curve, and in that shape extends to h, Fig. 4, and from that point is cylindrical until it reaches g, Fig. 4., at which point the cutting-edge commences, the cutting-edge or that part of the blade being set at an angle of about twenty degrees, (20") while the ey lindrical part and the point of the cutter are parallel to the line f f, as shown in Fig. 4-, the wedge shaped point and cylindrical part forming a guide for the cutting-edge of the blade and preventing the knife from slipping out until the act of cutting is complete.

The blade may be made from steel or iron wire.

The plates or protector may be made of any sheet metal, and, if desired, a ring may be attached at the corner, as shown in Fig. 1, for convenience in attaching the envelopeopener to a chain or key-ring. The blade, being so thoroughly protected by the plates or protector, cannot injure any one or any thing.

The instrument in use, as shown in Fig. 7, is taken between the thumb and forefinger and the end of the envelope or folded sheet is entered in the groove 0, Fig. 6, or passage-way, the point m, Fig. 4., inserted under the folds of the paper, and the instrument is then drawn with a downward stroke, was to cut the paper in a quick and neat manner.

What I claim is 1. The combination of the cutter B, set in position at an angle of twenty degrees, inclosed and secured within the protector A, and having a wedge-shaped point with reverse curve m and cylindrical guide h g, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the protector A, having the groove or passage-way and the opening 6 in the top plate a, of the cutter B arranged in said groove, as shown and described.

Witness my hand this 22d day of May, A. D. 1890.

MARTIN PROSINGER.

Witnesses:

FRANK MCFARLANE, H. P. HANDY. 

